Connect with us

Breaking News

‘Europe has to defend itself,’ says Humphreys

Published

on

This post was originally published on this site.

Fine Gael’s Presidential candidate Heather Humphreys has said she does not agree with the comments fellow candidate Catherine Connolly made about European military spending.

Ms Connolly drew parallels between the current increase in military spending in Germany and its rearmament during the 1930s.

Speaking in Killarney, Ms Humphreys said “Europe has to defend itself”.

“We’ve had peace for almost 50 years in Europe,” said Ms Humphreys.

“Russia attacked Ukraine. War has come back to Europe.”

She said the one person who can stop the Ukraine war is Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“He can stop this war,” she said. “It’s so difficult to see what’s happening in Ukraine. You see the bombs, the drones. What is happening in Ukraine, I believe is wrong.”

Ms Humphreys said: “We have to be aware that we are living in a different world and Europe has to protect itself.”

She said what President Putin “has bestowed on the Ukrainian people is horrific”.

“It disgusts everybody,” Ms Humphreys added.

Also asked about Ms Connolly’s comments, Fianna Fáil’s candidate Jim Gavin said countries on the border with Russia, including Ukraine, need to “look after their own welfare”.

Mr Gavin said there is an understanding of why those countries might be “investing in their defence and their protection”.

He said from an Irish perspective, “the Defence Commission has looked at the Irish Defence Forces in terms of investment”.

Presidential election candidate Catherine Connolly pictured with supporters before hitting the campaign trail in Donegal. Sinn Fein's Pearse Dohery and Pádraig Mac Lochlainn are among the supporters pictured
Independent candidate Catherine Connolly is meeting voters in Co Donegal

“We can keep our seas safe and keep our peacekeeping roles up to speed,” he said.

Mr Gavin has said he does not want to get involved in a “tit-tat” with another candidate but added “Europe needs to defend itself”.

“From my perspective, the European Union has been very clear in terms of the conflict of Russia,” he said.

“It needs to stop. European countries need to be able to defend themselves.”

Mr Gavin added the European Union has been set up to promote democracy and to promote peace.

Presidential candidates meeting voters in Donegal, Kerry

The candidates in the election are canvassing in counties Donegal and Kerry.

Catherine Connolly is meeting voters in Co Donegal and visiting Donegal town, Killybegs, An Clochán Liath and Ardara.

Ms Connolly is backed by a coalition of left-wing parties, including Sinn Féin.

Local Sinn Féin TDs Pearse Doherty and Pádraig Mac Lochlainn are canvassing with her during her visit to his constituency.

Fine Gael’s candidate Heather Humphreys and Fianna Fáil’s Jim Gavin are canvassing in Kerry.

Both Ms Humphreys and Mr Gavin will attend the Listowel Races in the afternoon.

Speaking on Radio Kerry’s Jerry O’Sullivan on the Kerry Today show, Ms Humphreys said her campaign is “going well,” and said she has been meeting and talking to people and is getting the chance to outline to them her “vision” for the presidency.

She said that if elected president, she would “put a strong focus on community” and also said she would seek to unite people.

Ms Humphreys said community is close to her heart and it is “so important” that volunteers be recognised.


Follow live updates


“I’ve seen them across the country, they are the people who hold our community together, you see them in the GAA, you see them in the Tidy Towns, the Men Sheds, the Women Sheds, the youth clubs, they’re all out working in their development associations, they’re doing so much for this country,” she said.

Ms Humphreys encouraged them to “keep going” and said they should never be taken “for granted,” and she wants to support them in every way that I can”.

She said the Irish electorate is”very well informed”.

“Because they know the Presidential campaign is different, it’s about the person and it’s not about policies,” she said.

Jim Gavin pictured in Kerry with Norma Foley - RTEpic
Jim Gavin was canvassing in Tralee this morning

Speaking in Tralee, Jim Gavin again ruled out a voting pact with Ms Humphreys.

“I am canvassing for myself Jim Gavin, I am not a politician. I am presenting myself, as raw as it is, to the Irish people.

“I have done a close to four decades of service to this state and very proud of that, he said.

Mr Gavin said he is asking people to “give Jim your number one”.

Also speaking to Radio Kerry, Mr Gavin said he believes the Irish tricolour should not used for “extremes” and the flag represents inclusion.

“What is interesting and unique about our national flag is that the piece in the middle speaks about equality, speaks about respect, the white of our tricolour.

“So I am very sensitive of it, I don’t think it should be used for extremes,” Mr Gavin said.

He said he believes there is a need for the presidency and said it has a “powerful” role.

“When Éamon De Valera when he and others wrote the Constitution, which was adopted by the Irish people in ’37, had that the President is a non-partisan, non-political force for the country.

“So my presidency will be about being active amongst the community, visiting schools, visiting volunteering orgainsations highlighting the great work they do,” Mr Gavin said.

Breaking News

Ex-Reform politician admits Russia-linked bribery charges

Published

on

Read more on post.

The former leader of Reform UK in Wales has pleaded guilty to bribery charges relating to statements in favour of Russia while being an elected member of the European Parliament.

Gill, 52, from Llangefni on Anglesey, admitted eight counts of bribery between 6 December 2018 and 18 July 2019, but denied one charge of conspiracy to commit bribery.

He served as a UKIP and Brexit Party MEP between 2014 and 2020, and was leader of UKIP Wales between 2014 and 2016, and then leader of Reform UK Wales between March and May 2021.

The court was told the guilty pleas were “satisfactory” because the bribery charges reflected the criminal activities.

Continue Reading

Breaking News

CAB sells two homes linked to criminals for €250,000

Published

on

This post was originally published on this site.

The Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) has sold two properties linked to organised crime groups in Limerick and Longford for over €250,000.

A farmhouse, stables and 18.5 acres of land which includes a horse trotting track in Kealderra, Bodyke in Co Clare was sold this week for around the asking price of €175,000.

CAB seized the property from William McInerney, whom CAB says is a trusted member of the McCarthy Ryan organised crime group.

The gang has been involved in a murderous feud for over 20 years with the Dundon organised crime group which has cost 17 lives.

CAB says the property was bought to disguise the proceeds of drug dealing and other organised crime activity.

A track was built on the land for organised illegal sulky races, which CAB says were then used by criminals to launder money through gambling and horse sales.

McInerney, 52, was a jockey and horse trainer for other members of the gang who trained and stabled the horses at the property in Co Clare.

McInerney has convictions for drugs, theft, assault and passing counterfeit currency.

He bought the farmhouse and land at an auction for €233,000 in 2010 and paid a cash deposit of €23,300.

McInerney was on social welfare but claimed he got the money through the sale of another property, investments in Lanzarote, the sale of a Toyota Land Cruiser.

He also said that he had found “€5,000-€6,000” in another house he bought.

He said he got the cash deposit through a combination of “horse trading” money which was “under the counter” and two people, “Marie” and “Cha” he met for a loan of €156,000, but “didn’t sign any forms at that meeting”.

CAB says it identified and dismantled as part of its investigation a complex money laundering scheme using various bank accounts and mediums in Ireland and Spain.

The High Court ruled the property to be the proceeds of crime before CAB seized and sold it.

Large bathroom at the 'Blondie' house in Longford
A bathroom at a detached cottage in Co Longford that CAB sold this week

CAB also this week sold a three-bedroom detached cottage in Co Longford on just under a half hectare of land with an outhouse used as a bar and gym for €79,000.

CAB says the cottage, which was extensively renovated, was the home of the Longford criminal Edward “Blondie” Stokes, who was sentenced to seven years in prison for a violent assault on a man in a pub in Granard in 2018.

The house was bought in 2014 for €24,000 which Mr Stokes said came from an inheritance, family loans and wedding gifts.

An estimated €400,000 worth of renovations were carried out on the property including the installation of the bar known as “Blondie’s Boom Boom Bar”.

However, Stokes claimed his father-in-law built the bar for free.

Edward Blondie Stokes
Edward ‘Blondie’ Stokes

CAB says Edward “Blondie” Stokes is a member of the Stokes Organised Crime Gang, along with his uncle Edward “Sonny” Stokes.

It says the gang set up a sophisticated illegal ‘chop shop’ business to break down and resell vehicles and machinery stolen in the UK.

CAB has also received an offer for a nearby parcel of land and two outbuildings valued at €10,000 which CAB also seized from Stokes.

The head of the Criminal Assets Bureau, Detective Chief Superintendent Michael Gubbins, has said the seizures are part of CAB’s “deny and deprive” strategy whereby trophy homes, luxury goods, high powered cars and cash are declared the proceeds of crime and taken from criminals.

Continue Reading

Breaking News

Man charged over number of burglaries in Co Wicklow

Published

on

This post was originally published on this site.

A man in his 30s has appeared at Bray District Court charged over a number of residential burglaries carried out in Co Wicklow over the past 12 years.

Jimmy Cash, 36, with an address at 7 Daletree Place, Ballycullen, Dublin, is charged in connection with four burglaries at houses on Wednesday 24 September 2025 and one historical burglary from March 2013.

Detective Garda Tadhgh O’Connor from Wicklow Garda Station gave evidence of his arrest to Judge David Kennedy.

He said Mr Cash was arrested yesterday in relation to four burglaries that were carried out on residential properties in Co Wicklow on Wednesday this week and one from 2013.

The first of those occurred in Clonpadden at around midday where a gun safe was stolen. Det O’Connor told the court a shotgun which was in the safe has yet to be recovered.

Three further houses were burgled in the Annagowlan area where money and items were stolen.

Mr Cash was also charged in connection with a burglary carried out in March 2013 in Blainroe.

Barrister Sorcha Dianamh Ní Néill Fulham, representing Mr Cash, applied for bail.

Detective Garda O’Connor said he would object to bail due to what he said were the seriousness of the charges.

Judge David Kennedy refused bail and remanded Mr Cash in custody to appear again via video link on October 2nd.

A second person, a woman in her 20s, appeared before the courts yesterday charged in connection with the investigation.

Continue Reading

Trending